Federer believes his back problems are behind him and that he can look forward after easily beating Feliciano Lopez in the third round.

“I needed to get over the fear of the back issue. Then I think the wobble I had in the second round was due to my preparation,” he said.

“I think now I’m just trusting my movement better. My serve is there. My mind is there. I can finally focus on playing tennis and not so much about the past.”

Opening proceedings on Arthur Ashe Stadium are world number one Karolina Pliskova and Jennifer Brady, who is one of three American women hoping to join Sloane Stephens and Venus Williams in the last eight.